First ride

Arrived yesterday.

Built up in about 30 min.

Ridden in tech lion infested terrain, in the pre dawn dark in 15 degree weather for about an hour. I survived, but the camera bats died in the cold, so I stuck it in my shorts for the spin back to trail head and here is a crappy shot. I am still tweaking a few things, so no glamour shots yet. This is the basic configuration.



Steve's packing job was excellent, I've never seen its equal.

The sizing and geo look perfectly to spec. Every measurement we agreed on is dead on. Seatpost fits nice and tight, but not too tight and no slop. BB threaded in entirely by hand.

I ended up being able to use the 32X21 gearing I wanted without any modifications. Chainstay ending up 16.3" (415mm)

I compared it to the SB (which tore it up this weekend), and the cockpit is identical with shorter stem and seat in middle of rails.

Wheelbase is essentially identical on these bikes, so we have shifted my BB about 13 mm back in the wheelbase. I will tell you it is absolutely easier to manual than the Simon Bar, but the difference is not massive. I can actually flip it over in a manual without the big effort it takes with the SB. I will say the bikes are more similar than different which is a good thing. I have only about 2mm of side clearance from the rather large side knobs of a Bontrager FR3. My buddy can not run this same tire on the SB without trimming the knobs.

The bike ended up 2lbs heavier than the SB( 26.6lbs versus 24.6lbs). Frame is a pound of that, wheels are probably another 100 gms each, tires and rims are much more burly than the SB, fork is 100gms heavier as well. I can live with that. I need this thing strong.

Steel just has a different indescribable feel compared to Al, especially at slow speed hops. The steel feels like it gives back a little energy. I have ridden it around the yard and the basement avoiding kids toys, etc and I will tell you it is very nimble.

With the low 1/2" rise bars I chose, I have to run 35mm of spacers which sucks a bit in the looks dept. It is perfect if I ever run a suspension fork. You can not shorten a head tube once the bars get to high. I could get a higher rise bar and or stem and get rid of a bunch of the spacers. I will wait on that for now.

I feel the fabrication of this frame is very accurate and top notch.

The PC job is a bit of a let down. Pretty industrial IMO. I am sure it will be durable. I will scratch it up plenty very soon. I never wash my bikes anyway, so I don't give much of a rip. Given the choice between this PC and paying $300 more for a super paint job, I would keep the cash every time. If you are really into paint jobs, would recommend you have Steve build your frame and then send your raw frame to the painter of your choice.